Eva Lys recently revealed that she has no hesitation in blocking online trolls, admitting she does so religiously to protect her peace. In a candid conversation with fellow pro Ajla Tomljanović, Lys addressed several topics, including her social media presence, the scrutiny that comes with it, and, most notably, how she handles criticism of her performances.
The 24-year-old’s stance also drew backing from fellow professionals Amanda Anisimova and Danielle Collins.
Amanda Anisimova, Danielle Collins Rally Behind Eva Lys Over Troll-Blocking Confession
The fame that accompanies professional tennis is often matched by relentless scrutiny. Lys, who last competed in the first round of the 2026 Australian Open, revealed that she has frequently faced criticism over her Instagram activity, with some calling her unprofessional.
However, Lys pushed back against the narrative, emphasizing that staying authentic matters more to her than conforming to outside expectations, no matter how many eyes are watching.
“Everyone hated that I wasn’t just being professional on Instagram. They’d say, ‘If you want sponsors, you can’t post that. And you know what posts I am talking about. I was always boycotting because I am like, ‘Hey, I want to post what I’d post if I had 20 followers. I don’t care how many people are watching me. I just want to be myself.” That’s one thing that I was always missing from big players looking up,” she said in a candid conversation with Tomljanović for Tennis Channel.
The German explained that people only see tennis players on court and assume the sport defines their entire identity. In reality, they need hobbies and personal balance like anyone else,
“You know there are good tennis players, you know what they do on court and practice. But what do you guys do outside? What hobbies do you have? It’s such an innate concept that Tennis players is just playing tennis and not doing anything else. It feels like it’s the same with every job. Like you need your hobbies, you need your balance to stay sane,” she added.
When asked by the Aussie whether she ignores or blocks online critics, Lys admitted she “religiously” blocks them. She recalled being flooded with negativity after her first-round exit at the Australian Open, with some urging her to prioritize practice over social media activity and photo shoots.
“I block religiously. It’s so funny you mentioned that because I had that topic the past days with my parents. I’ve had a lot of hate after losing first round, and it was like the first time where I was like a little bit overwhelmed with how many people were hating on me. They’re telling me I should spend less time on Instagram, do less photo shoots and focus more on practice,” she said.
While Lys doesn’t mind criticism elsewhere, she refuses to tolerate negativity in her own space and actively removes it to protect her peace.
“And everytime I get a comment, that’s targeted at me I block because people can hate on me, people can hate on their page, people can make articles about me, I don’t care about that. But if you are coming on my page I am gonna block and block again,” she added.
MORE: Eva Lys and Maria Sakkari Make Feelings Clear as They Share Hateful Messages After Losing in Tokyo
Lys’ candid admission clearly found strong support from fellow stars Anisimova and Collins. The former World No. 7 voiced her support for her fellow pro, writing, “I’m here for all your posting,” she wrote. Meanwhile, Anisimova showed her approval by writing, “Periodddd.”
This was not the first time Lys has openly addressed the toll of online trolling. She, along with Greek star Maria Sakkari, was inundated with hateful messages after their defeats at the 2025 Toray Pan Pacific Open, highlighting the darker side of life on tour.
Anisimova has previously come under the trolls’ radar after stating she “doesn’t like” Taylor Swift. She later clarified that she harbored no ill will toward the pop star but simply wasn’t a fan of her music. Moreover, Collins has also dealt with online trolling, notably following her emotional outburst during a first-round defeat at the Cincinnati Open in 2025.
